Left In Lowell

My bleeding heart is wrenched:

Whatever happened to government of the people, by the people and for the people?

Yes, the board’s decision just saved the city $877 yearly and thousands more in health-insurance premiums, but its insensitive, bean-counter — or worse — behavior leaves us wondering where humanity factors into the bottom line.

If you hear a distant wailing of, “Oh, .. the Humanity,” please note, it is not the Hindenburg crashing to terra firma. It is Jim Campanini’s credibility.

By a show of hands, who thinks Campi gives a lick for Wally Bayliss

GIC is best choice for city’s unions
The Sun (12/19/11), Archived Online

Joining the GIC takes the politics out of decision-making for Lowell and all other municipalities. The GIC ’s commissioners work full time to monitor insurance trends, improve quality care, and find the best deal to keep costs low for members and taxpayers. Contributory rates are set annually.

Now there is a catch. If Lowell’s teachers’ union decides not to join the consensus group already in tow, it kills the entire proposed deal. In that case, it would trigger a City Council vote to give the city manager the authority to make health-care program design changes to achieve cost savings. The unions would have limited input in what could become a highly charged and risky process.

We urge the School Department unions to make the prudent, intelligent choice that would rein in costs, provide quality health care and save city jobs.

Should the school unions balk, we urge the City Council to authorize Manager Lynch to move ahead with the plan-design option immediately, so that some savings might be generated in the 2012-13 budget year

If you can’t figure whether Campi loves or hates bean counters, don’t tarry. Know this! He hates City Manager Bernie Lynch.

Campi sends the cub reporter to do his dirty work:
Retirees rally to preserve benefits
Lyle Moran (11/17/10) Archived Online

LOWELL — Retirees descended upon last night’s City Council meeting, accusing City Manager Bernie Lynch of risking the lives of seniors and comparing him to the heartless Tin Man and Ebenezer Scrooge.

Lynch was the focus of their enmity because of his support of the council’s filing of a home-rule petition with the state Legislature that would give the city the power to overhaul its health-care offerings without union approval.

“If you give the manager sole responsibility for insurance you will be signing the death warrant for many retirees,” James Molloy, chairman of the city’s insurance advisory commission, told a packed City Council chamber.
-snip